Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-04-30

A Decision OF the Latter which set At I.ibert.
Runaway slave

A Decision OF the Latter which set At Liberty
Runaway slave.
The Erie Heraid has been delvirg among
the records OF its county, and prints the fol
lowing Of interest here.
The assessment rolls OF 1904 show that Bow
Bladen NEGRO mani had 30 acres land, AS
sessed At els: two horses, 800: two oxen,
SIS three cows, $50; total, S9o2. lie WAS
remarkable man in his early day. He was
Guinea negro abducted In his youth by the
slavetraders and brought to America lie
claimed to be the son OF one OF tho African
tribal kings, and his claim appeared to be
verified by the fact that he bad the three
tattoo marks across his face which were
known to be the royal mark on the African
coast at that time. he was one Of the first
settlers tina, came into the county about the
year 1876 from Lancaster county. He wasa
msn OF powerful physique, OF great force OF
character, aud thrifty and industrious in his
habits lie built himself a log cabin on his
tract, and barn, and quickly III ade clear
ing and put in q crop He lived about two
and e'half miles south Of Federal Hill, aud
II is told OF him that his voice was so power.
fui as to be distinctly heard at that distance
when he raised 1t in what was then known rs
the "settlers' calls" He was man Of great
suaNily OF manner aud very polite and
cnuruy department, and scrupulously neat
In dress, and TO these peculiarities may be
credited very prevalent impression that the
name 10y which he WAS 50 widely known was
spelled Beau, and was given him by his
neighbots However apt the pronunciation
made IL, in fact his real name WAS Bow
Bladen." one SOB, WIN. Bladen, now In his
s1th year and born on the homestead, still
resides there in the iull possession OF his
mental faculties and of al alert and vigorous
old age. He is the oldest man living who
was born in Erie county.
AN oLp.rIME ERIE JUDGE.
John Grubh. esq had 800 acres land, as.
| asss ssed at ST. 400
1 hoe, tD Nvs tar
| county, in this state, and married in York
| county, and came to Erie county in command
| ola company OF troops to protect first sur.
l veyors and settlers about the same time
| that Baden did, and settled upon the beauti
iul tract on the east side OF the Wsterio
| road and upon the slope aud hull known a
Nicholson's Hill. The house which he early
built is still standing. with the additions
made to 1t by succeeding generations be
was "a man OF tremendous physique and o
| great / )rce Of character. He Was county com
| missioner from ISIS to isis and associate
judge from lS2O to ISL. To him belongs th'
high honor OF having rendered one OF thu
first decisions OF the tims in favor OF tn,
slave. 1t was probably in the late thuties
| A runaway slave from Virginia had worked
| his way as far north as Erie and was EN-
| ployed in some capacity in the little borough
| Information Of his whereabouts reached hi
| master and he was followed and with th'
| help OF some natives, whose sympathies wer'
with the slave owners and had belief in th
rights OF property in man was arrested an,
| preparations made to hurry him back to th
| South. There were at that early day agent
i | OF the underground road in the borough anl
| sturdy defenders of the right of freedom
\ | They believed in the liberty OF man as the
! | believed in freedom OF the air and Of tn
water. The president judge did not resid
. | in Erie, and swift mess niger was sent 10
. | Judge Grubb with q statement OF the CASE
No time was lost by the grand old man an
be was soon At the court house, and habes
. q corpus was issued by him, and the trem olin
a slave was brought before him. The case fc
y | the slave-owners was argued by lswyt
I named Randall, and he was able aud aggre
J, | sive, and in his plea, so far as the law wa
: | concerned, seemed to have made out his cas-
? beyond doubt the late John II. Wake
was the volunteer counsel for the negro an
! one who was present informed the write
| that Mr.. Walker, in that imp plssioned plea fC
: | humanity, probably made the ablest effort {
| his life. The court room was crowded. an
when Mr.. Walker closed the stiffness was
. profound rs to be almost painful, while 9
! ! | waited for the decision of the judge, whic
1 | was thus:
"The commonwealth OF Penusylvani
knows no law which recognizes With
( | her borders the rights OF property IN mai
, | The prisoner is distinguishes TO 60 wher
soever he will. Let no man dare to la
hands upon him within the jurisdiction
| this court"
a There was a shout which nearly raised Ii
8 ROOT of the cid building and the poor negr
. was helped by friendly hands from the cou
I house, and In a few days he had crossed th
| lake.
g Judge Grubb died somewhere in th
! forties, aud he sleeps beneath the shadow
| q lofty pine on his farm. his grandson
, | George Reed, now lives upon the farm, an
! until within few years lived In the oil
3 | home of the Judge